Motor retard



, Nov. 3, 1936. F. G. HAWNEY 2,959,345

' MOTOR RETARD Filed Jan. 24, 1955 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 3, 1936 NITEDSTATE$ Mam OFFICE 5 Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in motor retard. Thisinvention relates to attachments for outboard motor, especially forthose used for retarding the speed of the boat. I-Iithertofore allattachments have consisted of some device hooked. behind the motor toact as a drag to retard the speed of the boat. This not only adds to theload imposed upon the motor but increases the consumption of gasoline aswell; especially when compared to the mileage covered.

In my device the speed is retarded not so much by adding a heavy load ordrag to be towed through the water but it is in the form of a smalldetachable bafiie which may be attached to the motor in front of thepropeller which prevents the free flow of the water to the propeller inthis way causing less solid water for the propeller to push against todrive the boat forward. This greatly relieves the load on the motor andhas been found to lessen the consumption of gasoline to a great extent.

The baliie is adjustable so as to allow more or less water to flow tothe propeller. The arrangement of the baffle is also such so as todirect the water into the water intake of the motor so it may obtain allthe cooling water necessary even at the reduced speed of the motor.

I accomplished these and other objects by the peculiar arrangement andcombination of the parts as will be more fully explained in theaccompanying specifications shown in the drawing and finally pointed outin the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the front of my device.

Fig. 2 is a side view of an outboard motor with my device attachedthereto.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the back of an outboard motor with mydevice attached thereto.

Fig. 4 is a. section upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing reference numerals 5 and 6represent two plates or bafiies semicircular in shape as shown. 1 and 8represent U-shaped clamps with turned out flanges 9, these clamps aresecured to plates 5 and 6 as shown in Fig. 1 by means of screws or boltsIll. The holes II in the plates 5 and 6 are elongated in shape as shownso the plates may be separated as indicated by the dotted lines 50. and6m. I2 is a clasp hinged to plate 6 as at l3 so it may be folded out asindicated in dotted lines IZa. (Fig. 4). The other end of clasp isslotted as shown at M (Fig. 3). i5 is a slot in plate 5 adapted toreceive a bolt l6 (Fig. 4) provided with a thumb nut ll. The slot [4 inclasp l2 registers with slot IS in plate 5 so when bolt I6 is slid tothe right (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) it will engage clasp I2 and hold it inplace. When bolt I6 is brought to the left it will disengage clasp l2and permit it. to be folded. out. The entire device is forced on theoutboard motor from its front edge and immediately in front of thepropeller as shown in Fig. 2 and clasped in place by means of clasp l2as shown and the thumb nut ll tightened. The object of this clasp is toprevent the device from being forced off in case of back firing of themotor.

The method of operation is as follows: the device is first secured tothe motor and clamped in place as previously mentioned. The plates 5 and6 are adjusted outward or inward by means of bolts Hi depending on howmuch it is desired to retard the speed of the boat and be securelyclamped. As the motor is set in motion and the boat driven forward thefull flow of the water is prevented from reaching the propeller but isforced outward as indicated by the arrows. The water forced upward bythe baffles is deflected back by the shelf I8 of the outboard motor(Fig. 2) and into the water intake, l9, insuring the motor the necessarysupply of cooling water at all times. More or less of a vacuum tends tobe formed immediately behind the plates and around portions of thepropeller; this has a tendency to hold the device in place as long asthe boat is in motion. The U-shaped clamps l and 8 are generallysufficient to hold the device in place when the boatis at rest but theclasp I2 is used as a safeguard especially in the case of the backfiringof the motor.

The formation of the partial Vacuum and the scarcity of the waterreaching the propeller causes it to turn very freely and drive the boatforward at a very slow rate of speed. Due to the lessened load on themotor, substantial savings in gasoline .are effected.

While I have shown and described a particular form of embodiment of myinvention, I am aware that minor changes will readily suggest themselvesto those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention, which I have herein and above described. Having thusfully described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the type described consisting of baffles, and an outboardmotor, means provided for said baflies for securing them to the frame ofan outboard motor directly in front of the propeller.

2. A device of the type described consisting of bafiles, provided withmeans for attaching them to an outboard motor in such a manner that themovement of the Water due to the motion of the propeller will hold thebaflies in place on the frame of the outboard motor in front of thepropeller.

3. A device of the type described consisting of bafiles, U-shaped clamps(connecting said bafiles) for snapping them to the gear housing of anoutboard motor in front of the propeller.

4. A device of the type described consisting of a pair of bafiies,U-shaped clamps for securing them to the gear housing of an outboardmotor,

